Leaving Louisville today. After eleven days here, I feel like a resident.
I worked the match last night from beginning to end, nearly four hours of pool with a 45 minute rain delay (fire alarm thing). It was like two different matches - pre fire alarm and post fire alarm.
Pre alarm they both sucked, to put it mildly, missing balls and position, and failing to get out time and time again. Post fire alarm they both played like champions, making all the shots and running out at every opportunity. Busty put together one four rack package that sealed the deal when he went ahead 18-14. Shane never recovered from that, mainly because he couldn't put together any packages of his own.
Prior to the match, several people asked me to handicap it for them. I said it was a pick 'em, but if I had to bet I would put my dough on Busty. Simply put, he is playing better pool right now than Shane. Strange huh, since Shane won the 9-Ball. Busty played great in the Fatboy Challenge and might have won it, but he overslept and showed up unprepared for his semifinal match.
Meanwhile Shane and Lee Van played a stinker in the finals of the 9-Ball. Sorry, but I am compelled to tell it like I see it. I even predicted a final score of 23-20 Busty. Missed by one there.
Working with Sarah and Fred was a treat. If I hadn't been having so much fun with them I would have gone to bed. Between the three of us we usually figured out the best strategy for each player to use. And we were right most of the time. Fred has gotten a lot of experience working TAR matches and it shows. He is becoming a very polished play by play man.
Sarah is very sharp as well, a good observer of player behavior and body language. She is very patient and waits to make her observations, which are usually right on. She was a good complemtnt to Fred and I. I kind of like having three people in the booth, especially in long matches like this one. It gives you an opportunity to take a break and the commentary continues to flow.
With any luck we will have TAR at the Swanee tourney next weekend. Tune in for that one, it should be good also. Many top players expected, plus some good ones you may not have seen before.